New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-01
MORGAN LINE PIER BURNED
TIE STEAMER LONE STAR DAMAGED.
PROPERTY RITZ $3SOOOO coNsUMEp-NARRow
ESCAPE OF FIRRMEN

P"ie vi ohe Guy from the North Rlver front yes
tcrday morning, and gave to many thousands Of
people The first information of o great fire at the
new pier OF the Morgan Line at Charlbon-st. The
fierce wind which prevailed all the morning
famed the flames to unwonted fury and a strong
force OF fremen could not prevent the destruction
OF hhe pier. Thousands Of bales Of cotton were
rartly burned, se> eral lighters destroyed or
badly injured and the steamship Lone Star was
left almost wreck by the flames. The fire also
came near burning UP Chief Shay and twenty
either members of the Fire Department. Property
to the value of s3So,00O was swept away by the
flames In a few hours
The first alarm Of fire was given at :25 O. m.
by some person on the pier At that time tho
flames were C nfned 10 the lighter Lorena, which
was lying at the southwest corner Of the pier.
loaded with l,l00 bales of cotton. 1t was the
theory of the police later that sparks from a
stOVe-plpe on the lighter had set fire TO the cotton
Near The Lorena, at the end Of the pier, were
also number OF other Lighters, among them the
ltlter The Hope the Anderson the Montague and
The MORAN. Men we've ON most Of the lighters
and they were shouting for help when the first
companies Of Gremen arrived. At the outset the
fire looked dangerous and a third alarm
sounded. On the south of the pier lay the steam
ship Lone Star, which came near going to the
bottom OF tho North River in a collision with the
Wells City few weeks ago. She was empty, an
order having been given to lay her up ab q
Bro klyn dock during the duh season In the cot
ton carrying trade. Three men were on board.
but the fires in her boilers we've out, and she
unable to get out Of the way of the fire. Her
sister steamship, the New-York, was on the north
side OF the pier The NewYok had just arrived
and carried valuable cargo. Her fires were
banked, but her crew was on board and thc en-
sineer was soon able to get up steam.
Much difficulty was encountered by the flremcD
in stretching three lines Of hose from the engines
in West-sb. TO the burning lighter. more than
600 feet away Two other lighters near the
Lorena were On fire before any water could be
sent through the long lines OF hose Chief Shay
went out toward tile end Il the pier to direct the
hrcmen, soon alter the third alarm was sounded
" th him were Battalion Chief McGill, Foremeu
| Thiel McLaus him and Wrey, and about twenty
| firemen, members OF Truck Companies Nos. and
and Ensne Companies Nos. "a and 80. The end
OF the pier had then caught fire. Many tuS-boats
were already responding to the calls Tor help
which had been sent along shore. The LOrena
diiitcd. her moOring cables having been burned.
and swung about a anst the south side OF The
pier. Frantic Efforts were made by men on the
/ tu--boats TO get her out Of the way OF the Lone
star, and they able at length TO drag her
away blazing wreck.
The fre-boat Zophar Mills was laid up for re-
pairs, and the lIavcmcycr the only boat that
could throw streams II water from the river. The
flames dro q back the hIcmcn 200 feet before
Chief Shay discovered that they had hcmmed IN
both he and his men. While the iiremen were
working Oh the south sale of the pier the flames
had shot along the north side and there was no
/ n cr any way Of ape toward the entrance 10
the pier Chief Shay proved that he was leader
equal TO the emer, ,ency. Let the hose 90 and
keep t0seo cr Come this wayl' he shouted. Tie
led thc way 10 closed door in the side II the
shed, and a few strokes with the axes loosened
I he (aefe nj lnor lp ODcueu.
In n few moments more the men were on the
htrin piece outside the shed. Some Of them were
half cholSc'l and had to be supported by the
others. Shay wave ed his white helmet. and his
signal seen by the captain II the tug-boat
-. NJ. Cox, which steamed at once to the side Of
the pier The frcmcn were rescued not minute
too on. as the flames had begun TO demosh the
size ( the shed from which they had escaped.
AZ that time Sc era tugs had made fast TO the
Lone star but the BIZ steamship could not be got
out Of the SLIP in time Her wooden cabins,
raised above her deck and iron hull were blazing.
Three men On the vessel wee taken of by the
-. NJ Cox. stol<cr named Wyatt had gone To
sleep in room on the pier near the shore end Oh
sunday night, and he did not wake up until the
smoke had filled the pier Soon after Chief Shay
and his men had been rescued. they caught sight
Of Wyatt, who was Nainly trying TO squeeze
himself through hole in the sldc Of the shed.
They got him out with difficulty, as he was
frantic with fear
In less than an hour after the fire started IL
81 read all through the long she'd The GuiOn pier
on the north and the StOningtOn pier on the south
were half obscured by the dense clouds Of black
smoke. II seemed for time as il both piers
were in dancer li-h into the air rose the great
sheets Of flame prescribing grand yet terrifying
spectacle. Thousands of people collected in West
st., and stood until they were half frozen watch
my the blaze. The Lolce. under Inspector Steers
and Ca tain Gastlin. could hardly keep the street
clear for the lucmen TO work III. The recent at
tempt TO burn the freight sheds of the Morgan
Line at Bcach-st was spoken Of but IL was be-
lcvcd that the big fire was accidental
Half a-doZen tugs had been attached to the Lone
Star az she turned up the river past the end of the
burning pier. Before she had proceeded TAR how
ever. the lines broke were burned apart aud she
dritted back toward the end of the Gnion pier, on
the NORTH side of which lay tho big steamship
Alaska. For a few minutes there WAS reason to
fear hat the Alaska would take fire. as tho burn
ing vessel drfted close to her and remained for the
time beyond the control of the tugs. There was
much excitement until the leading cables were in
place again and the Lone Star was hanled away.
some paint on the Alaska and on the pier was
srorched little. he police boat Patr0l was
tine aud poured eight streams of water
on the forward deck to keep paiso, tae ant mnes s
close me burning per that her joiner work be-
gan to SIN kc, ands IT was necessary To DacK her
out OF danger From the Stonington pier tbe
steamboat Sl0ningt0n was tOwed out INTO the river
out of danger. .
A new iron shed which stood at the shore end OF
the pier gave some protection to 1remen. anu tney
managed TO save the shed and its contents ne
pier was rely consumed before noon, most OF
the OGDEN spies which II was putt burning
down to the waters edge. he police SAID that
lhere was no lspu 10 suppose that tnere na occh
any loss OF ife on the watchinan known az
Big larry was sand 10 have been on the lighter
Lorena aud TO be missing: but the p0hco
thought ho must have escaped. Tho hgn'er
Lorena was towel away from the pier to sink,
total wreck. he Ritter it was said, was sunK OIL
Wechawken. after beng burned badly. lhe hope
was towed toward Communipaw aud shale the |
same fate. 1t said Another lighter, SAID 10 DC
the Anderson. partly burned OIL the Ely tiaI
Fields, AZ Hopoken. The Lone Star was Deacheu
ut the same p ace and water was pumped lnto ner
nearly all day Her cabins, wi IA their costly iur-
iron hui was not injured materially. 49,
L.,I. rln a HnlinQSWOrth |